The No. 3 Razorback baseball team celebrated a convincing 12-1 victory over Creighton Saturday night, marking their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament regional final in two years. Arkansas showcased an outstanding performance, spearheaded by starting pitcher Zach Root who struck out seven batters over six scoreless innings.
The offense was led by Cam Kozeal, who continued his success from a prior game where he had four RBIs. Kozeal opened the scoring with a solo home run to the Hog Pin, and soon after, Charles Davalan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing another run to cross the plate, bringing the score to 2-0 in the second inning.
The Razorbacks intensified their attack in the third inning, with Kozeal doubling to right field to score Logan Maxwell, followed by Reese Robinett’s single that sent Kozeal home, extending their lead to 4-0.
Wehiwa Aloy and Ryder Helfrick then took the game to another level, each hitting two home runs. Aloy hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning, followed by Helfrick’s leadoff homer in the sixth. Both players continued their power surge in the seventh inning, with two-run homers that pushed the score to 12-0.
Creighton managed to score once off a fielder’s choice, but it was not enough to change the outcome, as Arkansas wrapped up the match with a dominant 12-1 victory. With this win, the Razorbacks secured their spot in the Fayetteville Regional final and will compete against the winner of the Creighton and North Dakota State elimination game on Sunday at 8 p.m.
This win not only boosts the team’s morale as they advance in the tournament but also highlights the strong performances from both the pitching and offensive units, setting a hopeful tone for their next matchup.